Taming Your Money Monster with Doug Lynam
Money Tree Investing
Doug Lynam is here today to share about his new book, Taming Your Money Monster. Doug shares his unconventional life journey from a Marine Corps officer to a Benedictine monk for 20 years, where he confronted the inescapability of money even in a monastery and how he later transitioned to become a professional money manager focused on teaching healthier, ethical relationships with money. He discusses how people develop "money monsters"—unhealthy money habits tied to psychological attachment styles. He stresses that while thriftiness is valuable, it should not come at the cost of compassion...
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Crypto Bonanza… The King Is Dead… Long Live the King
Money Tree Investing
Douglas Heagren | Follow on Facebook: Follow LinkedIn: Follow on Twitter/X: For more information, visit the show notes at
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Advanced Strategies To Slash The Cost Of College
Money Tree Investing
Shaan Patel is here to discuss how you can slash the cost of college through some more advanced strategies. We also discuss major education changes packed into the “Big Beautiful Bill,” starting with the introduction of new Trump Accounts—a kind of IRA for minors with no deductions and withdrawal restrictions until age 18. We cover expanded uses for 529 plans, including tutoring, test prep, homeschool materials, and more. Repayment options are narrowed down to just two, and several popular income-driven plans are scrapped. We also talk about how Pell Grants are being expanded for...
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Kirk Changes His Tune on Housing
Money Tree Investing
Kirk changes his tune on housing as he moves towards purchasing a new home. Today we explore how homeownership is often more of an emotional choice than a smart financial investment, with many people misunderstanding the real cost compared to renting. We talk about the burden of property taxes, why paying off a mortgage early might not always make financial sense, and the social pressures around owning a home. We shift gears to a surprising discovery in credit reporting systems—a “Human Trafficking Request” option—which leads us to reflect on the serious issue of human trafficking,...
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Balancing Motherhood and Financial Advising with Kaitlyn Laney
Money Tree Investing
Kaitlyn Laney shares her personal and professional journey, and how she manages balancing motherhood and financial advising. As she runs her own firm in Scottsdale, Arizona, Kaitlyn emphasizes the limitations of big financial firms and how individualized planning is critical—especially for high earners who often receive poor or outdated advice. Kaitlyn highlights the importance of understanding taxes, setting up retirement plans tailored to personal goals, and adapting financial strategies to different life stages. She also dives into the real costs of child care, the economic trade-offs...
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Down The AI Rabbit Hole We Go
Money Tree Investing
Today we go down the AI rabbit hole. We also discuss the highlights of the new legislative package dubbed the “big beautiful bill,” which includes tax changes like extending 2017 tax cuts, increasing standard deductions, eliminating taxes on tips and overtime, and adding a car loan interest deduction. They critiqued the temporary nature of supposedly “permanent” policies, expressed concern over increased national debt, and discussed the personal finance implications of car depreciation and insurance after one host totaled his vehicle and bought a newer model. We also talk about the...
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From Medicine to Alternative Investments with Dr. Amir Baluch
Money Tree Investing
Dr. Amir Baluch, a semi-retired anesthesiologist and founder of Baluch Capital, shares his journey from medicine into alternative investments, emphasizing the importance of income diversification after early career financial setbacks. He discusses his firm’s multi-asset platform for accredited investors, which includes real estate development, private equity in life sciences, life settlement funds, and explorations into litigation finance. We touch on AI’s disruptive potential across sectors and note that success will depend less on access to AI tools and more on the speed of...
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AI Thinks It’s OK To Steal and Blackmail You
Money Tree Investing
AI thinks it's OK to steal and blackmail you! Today we dive deep into the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, highlighting both its disruptive promise and emerging risks. New research showing that large language models (LLMs) often resort to manipulative behavior when put under pressure, raising ethical and control concerns. We also talk about investment strategies around AI infrastructure, noting underperformance in traditional strategies like small-cap, international, and value investing. We also explore a new MIT study suggesting AI may reduce cognitive engagement and critical...
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Bedroom Real Estate: How This Unique Rental Strategy Earns $50,000 a Month
Money Tree Investing
Ryan Chaw shares his bedroom real estate rental property strategy. As a pharmacist-turned-real estate investor Ryan shares how he built a successful portfolio of 14 rental properties generating $50,000/month in income by renting out homes by the bedroom to students and professionals near college campuses. Now financially free, he spends his time coaching others and maintaining a disciplined approach to growth while avoiding low-quality competition and preserving strong tenant relationships. Today we discuss... Ryan Chaw transitioned from a pharmacist to a real estate investor inspired...
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2025 End of Quarter Performance… How Did You Do
Money Tree Investing
Today we talk the end of quarter performance for quarter two of 2025. How did you do? We also cover a wide range of economic and market topics, beginning with the complexities of investing in artificial intelligence, lessons on succession planning, leadership transitions, and the importance of understanding demographic and power dynamics in both politics and investing. We note that large-cap growth, tech, and industrials led Q2 performance, while energy and real estate lagged. Mounting debt, rising delinquencies, and wage garnishment were cited as signs of economic stress, especially among...
info_outlineEric Malka shares his journey from arriving in the U.S. as a 17-year-old immigrant with $100 to co-founding The Art of Shaving, a brand that redefined men’s grooming by turning shaving into a premium ritual experience. He explains how a chance job in men’s grooming and exposure to traditional shaving culture in London inspired him to bring the concept to the U.S., where he and his wife opened their first store using natural ingredients and a four-step shaving system. Eric attributes their rapid growth and eventual acquisition by Procter & Gamble to their emotional connection with customers, brand storytelling, and strategic pivots—including leveraging media exposure, expanding into wholesale, and cautiously raising capital at the right time.
We discuss...
- Eric Malka shares his background as an immigrant entrepreneur who arrived in the U.S. at 17 and eventually sold his company to Procter & Gamble.
- He is best known for founding The Art of Shaving, a luxury men’s grooming brand launched in 1996 in New York City.
- The idea for the business came from his exposure to traditional shaving shops in London and his wife’s interest in natural ingredients.
- He described how the brand’s emotional appeal, especially the father-son connection around shaving, created strong customer loyalty.
- Eric stresses the importance of focusing on emotional branding and creating meaningful rituals rather than just selling products.
- He attributes the shift in the shaving market to overpriced blades, the beard trend, and disruptors like Dollar Shave Club and Harry’s.
- He explaines that their success was rooted in consistent brand execution and connecting deeply with consumers.
- The company strategically delayed raising capital until it was necessary and used that funding to accelerate growth.
- Eric emphasizes the importance of pacing growth—crawling before walking, walking before running, and using capital as rocket fuel only when ready.
- Eric highlights that many competitors tried to copy The Art of Shaving but failed due to weaker execution, particularly in store location and brand experience.
- He planned his exit years in advance and was strategic about timing and value.
- Working with P&G during the earn-out turned out to be educational and inspiring, giving him exposure to world-class brand and marketing leadership.
- Eric became a student of investing, studying top investors and institutions to build a diversified, tax-efficient portfolio.
- Malka defines his legacy around promoting natural health, entrepreneurial values, and helping underdog founders succeed.
Today's Panelists:
- Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth
- Phil Weiss | Apprise Wealth Management
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For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/the-art-of-shaving-eric-malka-724